Brazilians and the FFL...

**Brazilian** · 13th March 2005, 01:21

Hello.

That's my firts thread but I've been reading and checking this page for some months. I found some really high quality information and be sure that you're making a good job helping people to make better decisions about joinning (or not) the FFL.
I'm 29 right now. I want to join in 2 years. My reasons? Well, I think there's no other place for a man who lives by honour, fellowship, tradition and discipline. And I think about life as a really long and almost always hard process of learning and looking for intense and meaningfull situations. Long time ago, the human kind was capable of doing a lot of extraordinary things and, right now, there's no place for these things in the civilian life indeed.
Cutting the crap out:

1. Do you think I'm right or wrong about thinking of FFL as the only place that has left for men of honour, discipline, tradition and fellowship?

2. I saw threads talking about european people on FFL, North American people, Oriental people... What about Brazilians like me? Can anyone tell me something about Brazilians in FFL?

Thanks a lot.

**Forgotten** · 13th March 2005, 02:55

To the FFL I believe there are two nationalities; those who are French and those who are not French. Other than that, its the best man for the job. And there are many things you can do in life with honor etc... Its all about your aspect on life, no one can tell you if the Legion will give you that.

**arrichion** · 13th March 2005, 11:58

I am not sure it is good to go in to the Legion with that much idealism. Better do not expect nothing and do it, if you have a feeling that this is something you want to do.

**Brazilian** · 13th March 2005, 15:42

Facing the information you just gave me and other threads on this site, I realized there's a side of FFL I wasn't thinking about: the day-by-day military life, the boring and not that amazing things I would have to do and stuff like that. I'll seriously think about that, specially the "expect nothing and you won't be disappointed" state of mind.
Thank you all for the answers.

**Lethalbit** · 16th March 2005, 00:49

Hello.
It's not personal, but this I know: You are not going to France.
Stop dreaming my friend. Are you asking us if this is the right choice for you?
I'm not gonna lecture you about what "I've heard" or "What I've read", just like a lot of wannabes here - thing that make me sick - but being 29 years old, and asking people if you should go or not... are you following me?

Lethal.

**Brazilian** · 16th March 2005, 03:12

Originally Posted by Lethalbit

Hello.
It's not personal, but this I know: You are not going to France.
Stop dreaming my friend. Are you asking us if this is the right choice for you?
I'm not gonna lecture you about what "I've heard" or "What I've read", just like a lot of wannabes here - thing that make me sick - but being 29 years old, and asking people if you should go or not... are you following me?

Lethal.

Well, I didn't make it personal. It would be non sense, facing the fact that we don't know each other. So, I hope you don't take it personal either, but this I know: you better improve your reading skills. I didn't aks anyone if this is the right choice for me. I didn't ask anyone if I should go or not. What I did ask was:

1. Do you think I'm right or wrong about thinking of FFL as the only place that has left for men of honour, discipline, tradition and fellowship?

In other words: Is my impression about FFL correct?

2. I saw threads talking about european people on FFL, North American people, Oriental people... What about Brazilians like me? Can anyone tell me something about Brazilians in FFL?

In other words: I'm curious about the presence of brazilian men in FFL. Does someone know something about this? Any kind of info?

The only part of your message I think you're right is: "Stop dreaming, my friend". Anyway, you gave me this advice when it was too late. The two other lads told me that before you.

**voltigeur** · 16th March 2005, 06:38

Originally Posted by Nickfury

Hehehe,
Hey Tragedy!!! Whats up bro,

This is to Brazilian:

(I will say this again, I am not an Ancien, but what I tell you is from my own life and from talking to many friends who have gone to the legion, and talking to those Anciens who put up with all our questions on this board). (You will hear this again).

Brazilian, I think what people are trying to say is that the Legion "is what it is..."

Remember that phrase....

In short:

It can be a place of honor and integrity and it can be a place of misery and pain and hardship and probably all that and more. No one will give a ******* rats ass about you until you put in TIME and prove yourself WORTHY.

I AM NOT an Ancien, I repeat, I AM NOT AN ANCIEN!

BUT I say this to you however having had more than a few friends go to the legion, some staying, some not, also from reading the posts by the Anciens on this board. Just a note, READ THE STICKY NOTES AT THE TOP OF THE BOARD, if you haven't already.

Each man who joins seems to take away a little something different. To some men it was the defining moment of thier lives, where they became men, to others it was hell, those ones usually dont last very long. if you want to see a man who is in the Legion and loves it read the webpage for Zdenko, put up by his father in Australia. That is one motivated achieving young man, look at him as an example of what it takes, it is almost ALL ATTITUDE and DRIVE. Willingness to do what it takes, and then go further.

It seems to me, from listening and talking in depth with my friends who have gone, that what you take away depends on YOU, your outlook, your maturity, your own sense of drive, motivation, tolerance for ambiguity, tolerance for extreme hardship and definitely your ability to stay positive, laugh at yourself and at life, and devote yourself to something with all your heart and mind, and most of all not to go to the Legion with overly Idealistic notions of what the Legion is. I had a friend do that, he was sorely disapointed.

If you go expecting nothing but 3 meals a day, a regular paycheck, the occasional kick in the ass (literally), extreme hardship and pain that will test what kind of man you are, and the chance to be a soldier in one F**king tough ass army then I am sure you will be fine. Anything else is icing but no one is going to give you any icing for free....you have to ******* earn it, and prove yourself worthy each and every day you wake up.

Remember, if you get in, you are living a dream that few men will ever achieve, much less try. Tell yourself this: Everything is EASY, life is a peach! you are in the most famous/infamous army in the world today, just pinch yourself and say "well **** me, I'm a Legionnaire!"

I wish you the best in realizing your dreams.
In my book, no man should make excuses or hide behind rationalizations, if you have a dream, you go for that dream or it will haunt you for the rest of your life. At least go...see it for yourself.

Thats what I am going to do.

-Nick

A fine reply, I probably will put it on my web site.

**Brazilian** · 17th March 2005, 02:58

Gentlemen,

Obviously, I believe and understand that a lot of people here have more information and much more experience in being on the FFL than me. So, I expected you guys to tell me what kind of problems someone with my expectations about the FFL could have.

And actually, in different (but all positive) ways, you did tell me that. I quickly understood the messages of Forgotten, Arrichion and Nickfury. It took some more time (a couple of days) for me to take the meaning of what Lethalbit and Tragedy wrote me, but I think I finally did it.

What I got (and if I'm wrong it won't be the first time, right?):

FFL is really tough military life (I feel like a genious now). If I'm tough enough for this task I will be able to say just after the 5 years (if they let me in... and out). The best thing I can do before joining is to take care of my physical conditions, to improve my French and to expect nothing more than be part of this tough selected group of men. More than this would be a bonus.

If FFL is a place for a man of honour it depends if I can make my own trip with honour.

Thanks a lot for all the time you mates spent on me.

**franklin** · 17th March 2005, 15:38

Do people in Brazil roll their Rs?

**Brazilian** · 18th March 2005, 02:39

Originally Posted by franklin

Do people in Brazil roll their Rs?

My English is not that good so... what do you mean by "roll their Rs"?

**Martin Scott** · 18th March 2005, 11:01

Just read the thread and completely agree with Nick he hasn't been I have and everything he says is true. He if he keeps his motivation and drive will succeed and wear the KEPI BLANC.
Bonne Chance
Scottie

**franklin** · 18th March 2005, 13:45

By a rolled R I mean a trilled R.

Example:

the spanish word corro or perro

**Brazilian** · 18th March 2005, 13:53

Originally Posted by franklin

By a rolled R I mean a trilled R.

Example:

the spanish word corro or perro

Yes. Like the Spanish language, we have roller Rs in some cases, like carro (car), barro (mud), escarro (spit)...

And talking about language, how hard is learning French?